Hadrian Library in Athens

The Library of Hadrian in Athens, Attica: The Library of Hadrian was an impressive monument in ancient Athens but now few remains have survived. It is located outside the metro station of Monastiraki and on the northern side of the Acropolis of Athens. This library was constructed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 A.D. and the building followed a typical Roman Forum architectural style.

It had only one entrance, a high surrounding wall at its long sides and an inner courtyard with a central pool and garden surrounded by marble columns. At the eastern end of the collonade, there were a series of rooms that constituted the actual library, where papyrus books were stored. These rooms also served as lecture halls and reading rooms.

The library was seriously damaged during the Herulian invasion of 267 A.D. and was repaired in 407-412 A.D. In the Byzantine times, three Christian churches were built at that site, whose remains have partly survived.